Judas Dies in Battle
1 Maccabees 9, verse 1. Now Demetrius got word that Nicanor and his men had fallen in battle, so he authorized Bacchides and Alcimus to go a second time into the land of Judah and take the right-hand flank of the army with them. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 2. Thus they traveled the highway into Gilgal and camped at Mesaloth in Arbela. They captured it, and many people died. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 3. Then in the first month of the one hundred and fifty-second year, they encamped opposite Jerusalem. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 4. But they departed there and went to Berea, twenty thousand foot soldiers and two thousand cavalry with them. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 5. Now Judas set up camp in Elasa, and three thousand chosen men accompanied him. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 6. When they saw how large the number of the enemy forces was, they were very afraid, and many sneaked out of the camp. Just eight hundred men remained among them. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 7. When Judas realized his troops had run away and the battle was pressing upon him, he was greatly discouraged and had no time to rally them. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 8. Though weary, he said to those who remained, “Let us arise and move out against our enemies. We may yet be able to fight them.” 1 Maccabees 9, verse 9. But they kept trying to turn him back, saying, “We are not able. Let us rather save our lives now. Let us return with our brothers and fight against them later, for we are too few.” 1 Maccabees 9, verse 10. But Judas answered, “May it be far from us to do such a thing, to run away from them. If our time has come to die, then let us die courageously for the sake of our people. We will not leave behind a charge against our honor.” 1 Maccabees 9, verse 11. Then the forces of Bacchides moved out from the camp in formation and stood to encounter them. The mounted troops were divided into two parts, and the sling-throwers and the archers advanced before the army, along with all the chief warriors; Bacchides was on the right flank. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 12. Then the phalanx drew near between the companies on both sides and sounded their trumpets. The army of Judas also blew its trumpets. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 13. The ground shook by the clamor of the troops, and the battle raged on from morning until nightfall. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 14. Judas realized that Bacchides had the strength of his forces on the right flank. So all the stouthearted men came together with Judas. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 15. They demolished the right flank, and pursued Bacchides’ men all the way to Mount Azotus. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 16. When those on the left flank saw that the right flank was broken, they reversed course and followed closely behind the army of Judas. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 17. The battle was fierce, and many men on both sides suffered wounds and fell. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 18. Judas also fell, and his men fled. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 19. Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother and buried him in the tomb of his fathers in Modein. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 20. They wept for him, and all Israel mourned him with great lamentation for many days, saying, 1 Maccabees 9, verse 21. “How the mighty is fallen, Israel's savior.” 1 Maccabees 9, verse 22. Now the abundant acts of Judas—his wars, the brave things he did, and his greatness—are not recorded, for there were far too many.
Jonathan Succeeds His Brother
1 Maccabees 9, verse 23. After Judas's death, the lawless emerged in all the regions of Israel, and all those rose up who worked evil. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 24. In those days, there was a very great famine, and the nation deserted with the evildoers to Bacchides, 1 Maccabees 9, verse 25. He chose godless men and appointed them lords of the country. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 26. These men sought out and searched for the allies of Judas, bringing them to Bacchides. He took vengeance on them and mocked them. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 27. There was great perplexity in Israel, such as had not been seen since the days when the prophets ceased to be seen in their midst. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 28. Then all of Judas's friends came together and spoke to Jonathan. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 29. “Since your brother Judas died, a man like him has not come out to take on our enemies, namely Bacchides and those from our country who hate us. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 30. Therefore, we have now chosen you this day to replace him as our ruler and be our leader in battle.” 1 Maccabees 9, verse 31. So Jonathan accepted the command at once and rose up in the place of Judas his brother.
Jonathan Takes on Bacchides
1 Maccabees 9, verse 32. When Bacchides heard this, he sought to kill him. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 33. But Jonathan, Simon his brother, and everyone with him knew of this, and they escaped to the desert of Tekoa and camped near the waters of the pool of Asphar. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 34. Bacchides discovered this on the Sabbath, and he and his army all crossed over the Jordan. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 35. So Jonathan sent John his brother as leader of the people, and he begged his Nabatean friends for approval to store their huge amount of baggage with them. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 36. But the sons of Jambri from Medeba came out and seized John, and left with everything he had. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 37. After these things happened, they told Jonathan and his brother Simon, saying, “The sons of Jambri are holding a great marriage feast, and they are bringing the bride from Nadabath, a daughter of one of the great noblemen of Canaan, with a huge convoy.” 1 Maccabees 9, verse 38. They remembered the blood of John their brother, and went up and hid under the cover of the mountain. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 39. They raised their eyes and looked, and behold, there was a noisy crowd coming with much baggage. The bridegroom also came forth with his friends and brothers to meet them with tambourines, the musicians—and many weapons. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 40. Jonathan's men rose up against them from an ambush and killed them. Many of the wounded also fell, and the rest fled to the mountain. So they took all their spoils. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 41. The wedding was changed to mourning, and the sound of the musicians became like a dirge. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 42. Thus they avenged their brother's blood and returned to the low ground of the Jordan. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 43. Bacchides then heard of this and arrived with a large army on the Sabbath at the banks of the Jordan. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 44. So Jonathan said to those with him, “Let us stand and fight for our lives, for today is not as yesterday or the day before. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 45. Behold, the battle is before us and behind us. The water of the Jordan is on this side and that, and the low ground and thicket is not the place to turn aside. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 46. Now therefore, cry out to heaven that you may be saved from the hand of our adversaries.” 1 Maccabees 9, verse 47. So the battle was joined, and Jonathan reached out his hand to strike Bacchides, who ducked aside and went behind him. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 48. Then Jonathan and his forces jumped into the Jordan River, swimming to the other side. Bacchides and his army did not cross over the Jordan to strike them. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 49. About a thousand of Bacchides’ soldiers fell on that day. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 50. Bacchides then returned to Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judea: the fortresses were in Jericho, and in Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon and Tephon, all with high walls, gates, and bars. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 51. He also placed a guard in them, and they were hostile to Israel. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 52. Then he strengthened the cities of Beth-zur and Gazara, and the citadel, and placed armies in them with stores of provisions. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 53. He also seized the sons of the rulers of the area, holding them hostage under armed guards at the citadel in Jerusalem.
Attempted Destruction at the Temple
1 Maccabees 9, verse 54. Then in the one hundred fifty-third year, in the second month, Alcimus issued the command to take down the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary. Then he took down the work of the prophets and started to destroy it. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 55. At that instant, Alcimus was stricken, his mischief was thwarted, his mouth was shut up, and he became paralyzed. He could not even speak a word so as to give orders concerning his property. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 56. So Alcimus died then and there in great pain. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 57. When Bacchides saw that Alcimus had died, he returned to King Demetrius. Thus the land of Judah was peaceful for two years. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 58. Soon, all the lawless men deliberated among themselves, saying, “Behold, Jonathan and those with him are living in peace and certitude. Now, therefore, let us bring Bacchides back here, and he will seize them all in one night.” 1 Maccabees 9, verse 59. So they went and conversed with him, 1 Maccabees 9, verse 60. and he departed to come with a large army, secretly sending letters to all his allies in Judea, telling them to capture Jonathan and those with him. But they could not do so, because their plot had been discovered. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 61. So Jonathan and his men caught about fifty of their countrymen who were the leaders of the agitation, and killed them.
Bacchides’ Forces Are Crushed
1 Maccabees 9, verse 62. Then Jonathan, Simon, and those with them departed for Bethbasi in the desert, and rebuilt the outpost that had been destroyed and strengthened it. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 63. When Bacchides heard of this, he gathered all his army and sent orders to the men of Judea. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 64. Then he arrived and camped at Bethbasi and attacked it for many days, making engines of war. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 65. But Jonathan left Simon his brother in the city, and headed out into the country with a handful of men. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 66. He struck Odomera and his brothers and the sons of Phasiron inside their tents. Then he launched his attack and entered into battle with his armies. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 67. Meanwhile Simon and those with him came out of the city and set on fire the engines of war. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 68. Once they took the offensive against Bacchides, he was crushed by them. They upset him greatly because his plan of attack was in vain. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 69. Also, he was filled with rage at his advisors, the lawless men who urged him to come into the country. So he killed many of them and then decided to return home. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 70. When Jonathan learned of these events, he sent envoys to make peace with Bacchides and to obtain freedom for the captives. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 71. Bacchides accepted the proposal and swore to Jonathan he would not harm him all the days of his life. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 72. He returned to him the hostages taken earlier from the land of Judah. Then he returned to his homeland and made no further attempt to come into their country. 1 Maccabees 9, verse 73. Thus the sword was laid down in Israel. Then Jonathan settled down in Michmash, where he began to judge the people and to destroy the ungodly men of Israel.